Subliminal messages in LF

[BrianShaw]

I see what you mean.

[Kirk Gittings]

A photograph that uses an image to tell a story, or to convey an emotion, uses images to convey instinctively what otherwise would require a lot of words.

If you think of Walker Evan's work, that is all there is to subliminalism.

Flauvius

Curious. Where did you get that definition?

[Heroique]

If you think of Walker Evan's work, that is all there is to subliminalism.

Curious. Where did you get that definition?

This made me curious too.

"Subliminal" can mean a lot of things to a lot of people who make or look at photographs.

Here's how James R. Mellow, a biographer of Walker Evans, uses the term as he discusses the famous photographer's aims:

In Evans' view, then, the whole field of an individual photograph might be read as a mine of information, both consciously sought or subliminally arrived at. ("Walker Evans," by James R. Mellow)

This naturally raises the question whether photographs can also be "composed" (not just "read") as a mine of information ... subliminally arrived at.

I believe they can be, but I'm not sure if this is always the case.

[Vaughn]

Not intentional when taken (4x5), but I came to appreciate it for its 'message'.

Basically, old resource extraction mentality built on an old shaky foundation. And for the record, the old pier has been rebuilt as a recreational fishing pier, and the pulp mill dismantled.

[Flauvius]

Hi Kirk:

As to my understanding of subliminalism, that is how I understand the concept and that is how it comes to me in the work of Walker Evans.

If it works for me, so be it. However, I do not intend that it be accepted by anyone.

Flauvius

[Jac@stafford.net]

To me the subliminal is information that is unseen because it is not available to the language parts of the brain. It is experienced, but inexplicable. The examples we can picture are merely clever graphics.
.

[djdister]

A photograph that uses an image to tell a story, or to convey an emotion, uses images to convey instinctively what otherwise would require a lot of words.

If you think of Walker Evan's work, that is all there is to subliminalism.

Flauvius

I've got two books of Walker Evans' work, and frankly I dont see any of his work as "subliminal."

[Flauvius]

djdister:

For me, Walker Evan's photographic work "speaks volumes" and far more eloquently than mere words.

Unfortunately, my further narration on this topic is likely to be stricken by the moderators as being a political statement. In any event, the widespread appeal of Evan's work over the decades implies it has more than just surface appeal. It speaks to the ages, it is about humanity and its idiosyncratic values; as well as, the resolve of the human spirit.

Flauvius

[Kirk Gittings]

This made me curious too.

"Subliminal" can mean a lot of things to a lot of people who make or look at photographs.

Here's how James R. Mellow, a biographer of Walker Evans, uses the term as he discusses the famous photographer's aims:

In Evans' view, then, the whole field of an individual photograph might be read as a mine of information, both consciously sought or subliminally arrived at. ("Walker Evans," by James R. Mellow)

This naturally raises the question whether photographs can also be "composed" (not just "read") as a mine of information ... subliminally arrived at.

I believe they can be, but I'm not sure if this is always the case.

It seems to me that given the examples here and the explanations that virtually any photograph could be subliminal, which is frankly no definition at all unless the point is that there is some subliminal information in all art.

[Heroique]

Not intentional when taken (4x5), but I came to appreciate it for its 'message'. Basically, old resource extraction mentality built on an old shaky foundation. And for the record, the old pier has been rebuilt as a recreational fishing pier, and the pulp mill dismantled.

Great image – I'd enjoy hearing when the "shaky foundation" idea came to you.

Before set up, during composition, or after film development?

(See my remarks below about the Madrona, a "during composition" example.)